“Coal mafia greeting Shah?” Abhishek Banerjee hits back at BJP with airport photo

The political battle over corruption intensified ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections as Abhishek Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, questioning its stance on the issue. During a press conference, the Trinamool Congress leader displayed a photograph and alleged that a person he described as a “coal mafia” was seen greeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the airport.

Banerjee claimed the individual in the image was a known figure from the Asansol region and questioned why central agencies had not taken action against him. He accused the BJP of hypocrisy, stating that while the party frequently targets the Trinamool Congress over corruption, it allegedly maintains links with controversial figures. The remarks came shortly after Amit Shah addressed party workers in Kolkata, reiterating BJP’s promise of building a corruption-free Bengal and outlining its development agenda. The BJP has consistently targeted the ruling party over alleged corruption cases during the ongoing election campaign.

Banerjee further challenged the BJP to clarify its position, asking whether investigations by central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and CBI had been initiated against the individual in question. The exchange has added fresh intensity to the political discourse, with both parties escalating their rhetoric as the state heads toward crucial elections.